As heads of the philosophy, politics and economics departments in Oxford, and experienced PPE tutors, we do not recognise the picture of Oxford PPE painted in your article (The degree that runs Britain, 23 February). The University of Oxford has moved into the 21st century rather more quickly than Andy Beckett would have readers believe.

PPE offers an education, not vocational training. It is not a “production line for mild politicians” – though in a world of growing extremism and “alternative facts”, we are happy to defend a degree course that encourages students to understand and evaluate differing viewpoints and draw conclusions on the basis of evidence.

The course is changing and will continue to change. Thanks to the Nuffield Foundation’s Q-Step Centre, introduced three years ago, our social scientists, including those taking PPE, receive training in data labs and learn quantitative methods for analysing social and economic data. Our ongoing curriculum review aims to ensure that the PPE content builds on the latest research and is relevant for today’s students.

As your article acknowledges, students go on from PPE to work for a variety of organisations, including charities, aid agencies, activist groups and the United Nations. Some pursue careers in education. Of course, we are proud of all the achievements of PPE graduates, but, in 2017, PPE students hoping to be fast-tracked into the British establishment will be disappointed.

Our PPE students are taught by tutors who were themselves educated in other universities around the world, and who come to Oxford to pursue their research and provide an excellent education in their own subjects. Our students, too, come from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures and countries; they are talented and ambitious, but they are taking the opportunity to prepare for the social, political and economic challenges of the next century, not cling to the past.

As we prepare to celebrate the centenary of Oxford PPE in 2020, the curriculum will continue to develop to meet the needs of our students in the next hundred years.Dr Edward HarcourtChair, board of the faculty of philosophyProfessor Louise FawcettHead, department of politics and international relationsProfessor Margaret StevensHead, department of economicsUniversity of Oxford